As champagne was being sprayed in a rowdy visitors’ clubhouse at Chase Field on Sunday afternoon, the Diamondbacks packed their belongings and said their goodbyes. It was the end of another losing season, but for the players in the home clubhouse, it felt like something else.

“It’s a special group right here,” catcher Welington Castillo said. “I think you will hear about us soon. I can feel it, honestly.”

By beating the playoff-bound Houston Astros 5-3 on Sunday afternoon, the Diamondbacks completed their season at 79-83, a 15-win turnaround from their dismal 2014 season. Other than a 48-hour mirage in late August, they were never in playoff contention all year. No one expected them to be. Next year, they say, things will be different.

“Next year, it’s all about the playoffs,” outfielder Ender Inciarte said. “It’s not about winning just one series or having a good season personally. We all want to battle and make it to the playoffs. That’s my personal goal. I want to be there. I see how fun it looks to be there.”

And the Diamondbacks do not believe they’re far away, optimism that stems from their strong nucleus of position players. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt had another MVP-caliber year. Center fielder A.J. Pollock showed his injured shortened 2014 season wasn’t fluke. Outfielders David Peralta and Ender Inciarte established themselves as everyday players.

The Diamondbacks can hit, averaging the second-most runs per game of any team in the National League. They can field, rating at or near the top of most advanced defensive metrics. And they can run bases, finishing second in the majors with 132 stolen bases.

“There’s not names that fans around baseball know -- they don’t latch on to David Peralta,” closer Brad Ziegler said. “But everybody that plays against him knows that Peralta is one of the best hitters in the league. That’s part of playing in Arizona and part of not being a first-place team that’s on TV a lot. Hopefully next year we’ll open some eyes.

“But there isn’t a lineup in baseball I’d rather have than ours, top to bottom, and defensively, too.”

The questions surrounding the Diamondbacks for next year begin with the starting rotation, a group that struggled to deliver consistent performances throughout the year and will assuredly be the focus of the offseason for the team’s front office. There’s an expectation the Diamondbacks will look to acquire a pair of pitchers they can install in the top two spots in the rotation for next year.

“It’s hard not to like the optimism we already have and the potential that’s here already,” Ziegler said. “And then if you go and add some guys, it makes us that much deeper. We feel like we’re a team that’s ready to compete next year, with a few tweaks. If they can go out and do some of that for us, I think it would say a lot. There would be a lot of high-energy going into spring training next year.”

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale nodded toward the Astros, a club he believes has been built around its rotation.

“Every time they send a guy out there, they feel they have a good chance to win,” Hale said. “And that’s where we want to get. Our guys have to build up to that.”

Pollock knows the organization is on the right track. During his time in Cincinnati for the All-Star game, he said he heard from rival players and coaches who spoke highly of the way the Diamondbacks play the game.

“They don’t like to play us, I know that,” Pollock said. “A lot of pitchers are like, ‘Ugh, we have to play the Diamondbacks. We have to face their hitters.’ That’s always a good thing. But it’s not about the praise. It’s about finishing the job. We want to make the playoffs and we’re going to have to take the next step next year.”

Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray sighs before getting taken out of the game the fifth inning against the Astros on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the game, 5-3. Sean Logan/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt rounds third base after hitting a homerun in the seventh inning against the Astros on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the game, 5-3. Sean Logan/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt celebrates with A.J. Pollock after hitting a homerun in the seventh inning against the Astros on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the game, 5-3. Sean Logan/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt watches the flight of the ball as he hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Houston Astros pitcher Chad Qualls kicks at the dirt after giving up a two-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Houston Astros's George Springer crosses the plate to score the game tying run on a wild pitch by Arizona Diamondbacks' Daniel Hudson during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Houston Astros's George Springer slides awkwardly into second after hitting a double as Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill applies a late tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso, AP

Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock is congratulated by third base Andy Green after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez gives the ball to manager Chip Hale after hitting two batters in the 8th inning of a MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on October 3, 2015. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez throws the ball to first outing Houston Astros first baseman Chris Carter during the 8th inning of a MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on October 3, 2015. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Houston Astros Jose Altuve reacts after bing hit by a Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez during the 8th inning of a MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on October 3, 2015. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Houston Astros right fielder George Springer leads off of first base as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt covers the bag during the third inning at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

Diamondbacks outfielder Socrates Brito can't make the catch against the Astros during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Astros George Springer smiles after high-fiving teammate Jason Castro after Springer scored a run against the Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Astros hitting coach Dave Hudgens high fives the Astros' Colby Rasmus after he hit a two run home run in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Astros' Luis Valbuena celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Astros' Luis Valbuena celebrates with teammate Colby Rasmus in the dugout after Valbuena hit a solo home run in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. Rasmus hit a two run home run the previous at bat. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks third baseman Aaron Hill splashes water on his face in the dugout before the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks second baseman Phil Gosselin fields a ground ball as the Astros' Chris Carter runs to second during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt talks to Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa during the first inning of the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa wipes his face in the dugout after giving up three runs in the first inning against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks slugger Paul Gildschmidt reacts after striking out in the first inning of the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings fields a ground ball against the Astros during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Harkey walks to the mound to talk to Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa during the third inning of the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Diamondbacks' Jame Romak slides back to second after Astros second baseman Jose Altuve tags him out at second during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt is tagged out by Astros catcher Jason Castro at home during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo attempts to tag out the Astros' George Springer at home during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. Springer was safe. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo attempts to tag out the Astros' Colby Rasmus at home during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. Rasmus was safe. David Wallace/azcentral sports